Improvement in car-couplings



J. CAVE.

J. STEVE N S & G.

Oar-Couplings.

' PatentedApril28,1874.

lTNrTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN STEVENS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., AND GEORGE J. CAVE, OF ELIZA- BETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNORS TO GEORGE J. GAVE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR=COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No- 150370, dated April 28,1874; application filed January 31, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN STEVENS, of the city, county, and State of New York, and GEORGE J. CAVE, of Elizabeth, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Oar-Coupling, of which the following is a specification:

The invention will first be fully described in connection with all that is necessary to a' full understanding thereof, and then pointed out in the claims.

Figure l is a plan view of the coupling. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation. Fig. 3 is a detail section.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A is the draw-head, out of which project the two convex grooved jaws B for receiving the link O. I Said jaws are connected, at the inner end, to the cross-bar D of the rod E, which slides forward and back in thecrossbars F G, and the block H, and has the long coiled spring I on it, between bars D and G, to throw the jaws forward, and allow them to be pushed back out of the way of the drawhead of the car to be coupled on. Said rod also has a short strong coiled spring, H, 011 it, between bar G and the block H, to ease the shock on the draw-head when the cars couple.

The draw-head is connected, by rods 1, with the cross-bar G and the. block J, which is pivoted to the frame-piece M by a strong kingbolt, L, which is fitted in a slotted hole in said frame-piece to allow the draw-head to go back a little when the cars meet. N is the springlatch for engaging the link by its hook O, which is curved at the front, so that the-link will force it up, pass under it, and couple automatically when the cars meet. This latch is pivoted to a stand on the plate P, supported on the rods 1, above the rod E, and it has a spring, Q, for throwing the hook down into the link. Over the front end of the latch is a lever, R,which is pivoted to the draw-head at S, and having an arm, T, running under the latch,'to raise it up by said lever for uncoupling. To the free end of this lover a springcatch,U, is provided, which is thrown back by the lever when pressed down against it, and springs forward after the lever has passed,

and looks it to lock the coupling-latch N. This lever is allowed to rest above the catch U, and leave the latch unlocked in case it is wanted to allow the cars to uncouple if one is thrown off the track.

The jaws B are curved outward considerably near the outer ends, to receive the link from either side of the center, as it will be presented when the cars are on a curved track. The range of these curves is intended to be such as to take in the link on the shortest curves made in the track, so that the cars will couple on curves as on straight lines. The draw-head has a deep recess capable of receiving these projections of the jawsentirely within it when the draw-heads of the two cars meet, and thus protect them from injury.

The pawl rod E keeps the link in contact with the pin to prevent slack motion, and it ejects the link when the latch N is raised.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The convex grooved jaws B, for receiving and holding the link, in combination with the draw-h ead, the jaws to project from and to be moved back within the draw-head, for protection from the opposing draw-head, substantially as specified.

2. The-movable projecting grooved jaws having the convex extensions at the outer ends, for receiving the link when the cars are on curved tracks, substantially as specified.

8. The combination of the spring hooked latch N with the jaws B, substantially as specified.

4. The combination of the lockinglever R v with latch N, substantially as specified.

5. The combination of lever B, having uncoupling-arm T, with the latch N, substantially as specified.

6. The combination of jaws B, draw-head A, latch N, and locking and unlocking lever 1t, substantially as specified.

JOHN STEVENS. GEORGE J. CAVE. 

